After he finished speaking, the ward fell silent.
Old Lian didn't respond at all.
Lian Xiao quickly added, "I know she has a fiancé, and Jiang Linchuan is a very good person. We've been comrades-in-arms for life. But... but a wife is someone you're going to spend your whole life with, and I really don't want to give up like this."
He raised his head, his eyes filled with stubbornness. "I'm not trying to steal it, I just feel unwilling to give up, and I want to try and see if I can..."
"Give it a try?" Old Lian suddenly laughed, his wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling together. "I thought it was some earth-shattering event, but it turns out it's just this little bit of sentimentality."
Lian Xiao was stunned, not expecting his grandfather to react this way. He was about to say something more when he was interrupted by his grandfather.
"Pack your things and get out of here." Old Master Lian's tone was somewhat reprimanding, but not very angry. "Don't hang around Xinghe and Linchuan anymore, you're an eyesore. If you dare to do anything underhanded like poaching or sabotaging them, don't acknowledge me as your grandfather, let alone call yourself a member of the Lian family."
"Grandpa!" Lian Xiao exclaimed anxiously, standing up abruptly. "Why aren't you on my side? I'm your grandson!"
“It is precisely because you are my grandson that I have to speak frankly.” Old Master Lian’s expression darkened, his eyes revealing the wisdom of the older generation. “Everything has its order of arrival. The two of them are in love and living a good life. What kind of behavior is it for you to interfere? This is not robbery, it is disruption, it is immoral.”
He paused, then softened his tone, "Lin Chuan is a loyal and devoted man. His feelings for Xing He are genuine. Don't you see that? You can't force a relationship. Is it worth turning a friend into an enemy and ruining your reputation?"
Lian Xiao opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't say a word.
He knew his grandfather was right, but he couldn't just let go of that lingering thought in his heart.
"Stop thinking about those useless things." Old Master Lian glanced at him. His grandson had always been clueless, but now that he had, he fell for someone who was engaged. It was really worrying. "Either be good friends and watch them be happy, or stay away and find a suitable girl yourself. Give up now and stop obsessing over this."
Lian Xiao stood up with his shoulders slumped, the light shining on his face, half bright and half dark.
After a long while, he mumbled an "oh," and said, "Grandpa, you really know how to dampen my spirits. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have told you."
At this moment, he couldn't suppress the disappointment in his heart.
Even Grandpa said so, could it be that he really did something wrong?
But that was the person he liked; he just wanted to try again...
Seeing his grandson's dejected look, Old Man Lian's heart softened.
He knew that the boy was stubborn and once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. If he were forced to give up, the boy might just get stuck on his own stubbornness.
After a moment of silence, Old Master Lian sighed softly and patted the edge of the bed, gesturing for Lian Xiao to sit down. "Alright, don't look so downcast, like you've suffered some great injustice."
Lian Xiao sat down slowly, his eyes still listless.
"Xinghe is a good girl. I know that you won't get rid of those thoughts in your heart anytime soon. If I really tried to stop you from seeing anyone, you'd probably tear the roof off this ward. Since I can't control you, let's make a deal. If you agree, you can stay here and take care of me. If you don't agree, you can go back to the military headquarters now and stop causing trouble here!"
Lian Xiao suddenly looked up, his eyes lighting up instantly, and nodded hurriedly, "I promise, as long as you don't stop me, Grandpa, I'll agree to anything!"
Grandpa's lack of objection is practically equivalent to his agreement!
"First, no underhanded tactics allowed." Old Lian said sternly, "No speaking ill of Jiang Linchuan behind his back, no deliberately trying to sow discord between them, and absolutely no using any means to force Xinghe. They are in love, if you dare to play dirty tricks, I'll break your legs."
"I know I won't do anything despicable, I just... I just want to talk to Xinghe more."
"Second, keep your distance. You can meet up, but you can't ask Xinghe out alone, and you absolutely cannot do anything that crosses the line. Even shaking hands depends on whether she's willing. If you dare touch a single hair on her head, you'll see what I do to you."
"Then the three of us together is fine, right?" Anyway, Jiang Linchuan probably wouldn't let him be alone with Xu Xinghe.
"It's fine for you to be together, but don't keep staring at Xinghe, and don't wear your feelings on your sleeve." Old Lian snorted. "Don't make the young couple uncomfortable, and don't make this old man feel annoyed."
"Third, face reality." Old Lian's voice deepened, carrying the earnest advice of an elder. "If they get married and start a family, you must completely give up on them. Either remain good friends, or stay far away and don't get entangled with them anymore. This is not only to leave them some room, but also to save face for yourself."
Lian Xiao stiffened his neck and asked, "What if they can't make it work?"
“It’s not too late to pursue her when that day comes. But right now, she’s doing well, so you have to follow the rules. You can’t force feelings, and you can’t lose your conscience and the rules. If you can’t even do these three things, then don’t call yourself a grandson of the Lian family. I don’t have a grandson like you who doesn’t know any better.”
Lian Xiao clenched his fist. "I remember, Grandpa. I promise I will always follow the rules and never do anything to embarrass you."
Old Lian finally nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the apple beside him. "Alright, have an apple. Remember what you said. If you dare to break even one of these rules, see how I deal with you!"
Outside the ward.
Jiang Linchuan stood quietly.
He didn't mean to eavesdrop. Xu Xinghe suddenly needed to go to the restroom, which happened to be at the end of the corridor, so he waited there for a while. He didn't expect to hear those words.
Just as rumored, this old man Lian was upright and righteous, even in handling his grandchildren's romantic relationships with the efficiency and decisiveness of a soldier.
Jiang Linchuan looked down at his palm, where the warmth of Xu Xinghe's hand still lingered.
He wasn't afraid at all, and since Lian Xiao wanted to try, he let him.
He will eventually understand that some feelings are destined to belong to someone from the very beginning, and no one can take them away.
"Lin Chuan." Xu Xinghe's voice came.
Jiang Linchuan immediately composed himself, and when he turned around, his eyes were full of tenderness. He naturally took her hand and carefully dried it with his own handkerchief.
He didn't mention what happened earlier; there was no need or obligation to bring it up.
The two left the hospital side by side.
Jiang Linchuan quietly unwrapped the fruit candy from his pocket and stuffed it into Xu Xinghe's mouth.
"Hmm, why did you secretly bring a piece of candy?"
"I brought this with me when I left the military headquarters, in case you get carsick."
"It's so sweet. Come on, I'll take you to my house. It's a pity that our old big house was taken away and it will probably be returned in a few years. Let's go live in my little house."
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